Apreliminary hearing has been scheduled forTexas man facing two drug-related felonies following his arrest by a Highway Patrol trooper on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County.
Cheng Dong, 36, of Allen, Texas was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court Nov. 13, 2023 with trafficking in illegal drugs and acquire proceeds from drug activity.
Dong made his initial appearance beforeAssociate District Sheila Kirk on Nov. 13. She has set a $75,000 bond for Dong and scheduled his pre-preliminary hearing for Dec. 21.
Special Judge Emily Mueller has scheduled his preliminary hearing for 9 a.m. on June 28.
According to a probable cause affidavit by State Trooper Matthew Ludwig, at the time of his arrest Dong had $5,009 in U.S. Currency in his wallet and 150 pounds of marijuana was seized from his vehicle.
Count 1 accuses Dong on Nov. 7 of this year of trafficking in illegal drugs by possessing 150 pounds of marijuana, a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
Count 2 charges him with acquiring proceeds from drug activity on the same day by acquiring, transporting and concealing proceeds in Lincoln County known to be derived from the trafficking of Controlled Dangerous Substances.
Inaprobablecauseaffidavit,StateTrooperMatthew Ludwig states on Nov. 7 while sitting stationery at SH 99 and the Stroud toll gate he observed a vehicle go through the pike pass lane of the Stroud Gate and with the yellow light flashing indicating the vehicle didn’t pay the toll.
Ludwig said he caught up to the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. He observed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle after he had noticed numerous trash bags in the rear trunk area covered by a blanket and two trash bags in the second row seating area.
As he continued his investigation, he made a probable cause search and located four trash bags with vacuum sealed bags of marijuana in the trunk with a blanket over the top.
Dong told the trooper when asked about how much marijuana he had in the vehicle that he had about 100 pounds of it. Ludwig also discovered $5,009 in U.S. Currency.
Ludwig placed Dong under arrest and transported him to the Lincoln County Jail in Chandler.